School Board Rules In Favor Of Giving Condoms To Middle School Students

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SPRINGFIELD, Mass. (CBS Connecticut) — Middle school students in Massachusetts could be coming home with condoms.

The Springfield School Committee voted 5-1 in favor of enforcing the “Comprehensive Reproductive Health Policy” which would provide students, ages 12 and older, free condoms at Springfield Public Schools. The committee hopes this will help stop the spread of sexually transmitted diseases and teen pregnancy.

“Where they’ve instituted this program, the incidence of not only sexually transmitted diseases, but sexual activity itself, have decreased,” Christopher Collins, vice chairman of the school committee, told WWLP-TV.

Springfield Mayor Domenic Sarno, who is also chairman of the school committee, stands behind the decision.

“This is the right move and the smart move to make,” Sarno told The Republic.

The Republic reports that the policy states that parents “will be notified of condom availability in the schools and will have the opportunity to deny permission (opt out) for access to condoms for their student(s).” The condoms would be supplied by the state’s Public Health Department.